Microsoft CEO Says Companies Should Use Data to Determine When Employees Return to Work



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Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said companies should use the data to determine when and how employees return to work, calling companies who believe they have found a “short-sighted” answer, in an interview with “TechCheck” from CNBC Thursday.

Nadella’s remarks come as the company delays its reopening indefinitely over concerns about the delta variant of Covid-19. Microsoft previously postponed its plan to reopen from September 7 to October 4 last month.

“I look forward to the whole world overcoming this challenge because until we do, one particular company, one region that thinks they have found the answer, in my opinion will be short-sighted,” he said. declared.

Microsoft is joining several tech companies, including Amazon, Facebook and Google, which have pushed back reopenings amid rising cases.

Nadella also highlighted the company’s recent Work Trend Index, which found that feelings of inclusion and management support are high among company employees. But, while many workers want the flexibility of remote working, they want in-person connections with co-workers, a phenomenon the company calls the hybrid work paradox.

“Sometimes we think of this pandemic or its impact one region at a time, but it’s a connected world,” Nadella said. “One thing we’ve decided is that from now on we’ll just use the data to really talk about opening up a particular region.”

Microsoft also announced the rollout of new features for the Teams app in 2022, which they hope can improve the experience of meeting remotely with colleagues. Features include an AI camera that can detect who is speaking and the ability to integrate a Teams camera feed with PowerPoint.

While the software can help managers accommodate employee preferences, it has its limitations, Nadella warned.

“The link between the employee and the mission of the company, its leader and the team, I think that’s going to be the new motto,” he said. “So I think it’s also a place where technology and data can help.”

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